As storms tore through the UK this week, new research from Sainsbury’s Home Insurance suggests that at least 1.78 million homeowners do not have building insurance. A further 656, 000 claim they are unaware whether they have this cover.
It’s alarming that many homes buildings are without insurance and thousands could be at risk from storms this week, says Neil Laird, Sainsbury’s Home Insurance Manager.

He adds that it’s essential to have adequate cover especially with the growing number of weather-related instances. “It gives you a peace of mind that you won’t be left underinsured should the unthinkable happen”.

The Sainsbury’s study also shows that female homeowners are far more likely to be uncovered that men.

The study shows 6 per cent of the respondents were women who admitted not having building cover, while 4 per cent were men.
8 per cent of the homeowners between the ages of 65 and above and those of 25 to 30 years claimed they also have no building insurance.
No fewer than 39 per cent of those interviewed said they felt home insurance was not necessary.

In a similar development, another research by Moneysupermarket.com says over two million homes in the UK are on flood plains and that 900, 000 uninsured homes are at risk of flooding.

Meanwhile, the British Association of Insurance Brokers (BIBA) has called on households to adopt all precautionary measures they could think of and to contact their broker or insurer in the event of storm or flood, if they need assistance.

On Tuesday the Met Office forecast more bad weather stressing that homes in the Bristol Channel, Seven Estuary and Somerset coast were more at risk from flooding.

It urged homeowners to take precautions like putting sandbags outside doors and windows and moving furniture upstairs before a flood hits.